COLUMBUS, New Mexico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the Columbus port of entry seized 201 pounds of marijuana in a pair of drug busts Thursday. Two residents of Deming, New Mexico were taken into custody. The seized drugs have an estimated street value of $160,800. “Thursday was a good day for CBP and a bad day for drug smugglers,” said Robert Reza, CBP Columbus Port Director. “Two significant marijuana loads did not make it to their intended destinations because of the hard work of CBP.” The first seizure of the day was made at approximately 8 a.m. when a GMC pickup truck entered the port from Mexico. A CBP officer at the primary inspection used a “Buster” density meter to inspect the vehicle and received readings consistent with hidden contraband. CBP officers scanned the vehicle with the Z-Portal x-ray system and noted a number of anomalies in the appearance of the truck. CBP drug sniffing dog “Winnie” also searched the vehicle and alerted to the presence of drugs. CBP officers located metal compartments attached to the rims of all four tires of the truck. The compartments were opened revealing bundles of marijuana. The drugs weighed 121 pounds. CBP officers took custody of the driver, 53-year-old Gloria Covarrubia Mendiola of Deming, New Mexico. She was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt. The second seizure of the day was made at approximately 5:30 p.m. when a Chevrolet Silverado entered the port from Mexico. A team of CBP officers were performing an enforcement sweep of vehicles waiting in line before the primary inspection booths when CBP drug sniffing dog “Supi” alerted to the vehicle. CBP officers scanned the vehicle with the Z-Portal x-ray system and noted a number of anomalies in the appearance of a propane tank in the truck. CBP officers examined the tank and located a trap door at the bottom of the canister. A total of 75 marijuana-filled bundles weighing 80 pounds were removed from the tank. CBP officers took custody of the driver, 22-year-old Adrian Lopez of Deming, New Mexico. He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.

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Persons named on the Crime Report are to be considered innocent until final disposition of the case is made by a court. ____________________________